Canceling-stamp



(No Model.)

G.D.SPOONER GANGELING STAMP.

Pam-,ed 001.418-81.

n? f@ @wmf UNITED STATES .PATENT OEEIcE.

yGEORGE D. SPOONER, OF RUTLAND, VERMONT.

CANCELING-STAMP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 247,961, dated October 4, 1881.

Application filed March `5, 1881. (No model.)

-To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE D. SPooNEE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rutland, in the county ofRutland and State of Vermont, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Cancelin g-Stam ps for Postal and other Canceling Purposes, of which the following is a specieation.

My invention relates to stamps which cancel by cutting or perforating the stamps on letters or other objects, and which are provided with means for imparting rotary and descending movements to the cutter or perforator in the act of cancellation, and reverse movements to the same after the cancellation has been ef-v fected. c

My invention consists, mainly, in the central guiding-stem; also, in means for guiding the stamp-head, both on itsoutside and inside; also,in means for steadying and balancing the stamp; also, in an improvedV construction of cutter, with means for determining the depth vofits cutintothe paper; and alsoin means for determining the vertical movement of the cutter independent ofthe cutter-head, and at the same time insuring by said means a centralization of the spirally-threaded tube and consequent movement ofthe stamp-head on a line parallel with the central guiding-stem.

The drawings represent a vertical section of my improved stamp in two conditions, Figure l showing it as it appears before pressure or force is applied to its handle for the purpose ot' canceling a stamp, and Fig. 2 showingit as it appears after such force has been applied. In Fig. 2 the line of section is at right angles to that of Fig. l, and only the handle, stamphead, and its guide are sectioned.. Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the. stamp; Fig. 4, a detail broken section of thestamp-head and its guide slightly modified in construction, in ordery toy admit of the use of a marking-cork or indiarubber block on the left-hand side ot' the stamp; and Fig. 5 is atop view of Fig. 4.

The sta-mp represented is in many respects very similar to the one patented by me June 29, 1880, and my improvements are specially applicable to said stamp, but not confined wholly to the same. l

A is a central guiding-stem; B, the handle, provided with a central metal ring or tube, a,

through which the stem A plays freely, and by which it is centered and guided in the handle.

C is the stamp-head, formel with a bottom shoulder, 1),'a top shoulder, c, and an intermediate shoulder, d. A short spiral spring, f, rests on the shoulder d, and a tubular plunger, d', rests down upon this spring and has its movement limited by the shoulder o. On the lower end ofthe centralV stem, A, a screwthread, g, is Formed; and at the point where the jam-nut h is applied a screw-thread, t', is also provided on said stem. The spirally-threaded tube D, which rotates the stem A, encircles the stem and fits within the actuating-nut E, which is secured into a tubular guide, F, and has the handle B screwed toit, as shown. The regulation or jam nut h extends down into the spirally-threaded tube l),and thereby centers this tube with the stem A. The said tube D is formed with a shoulder or collar, j, which tits a counter-bore of the hollow plunger d. Below the shoulder j the tube D tits snugly in the stamphead C and screws upon the screwthread g, as shown.

In the lower end of the stem A a conical cutter, l,is screwed,and in the cylindrical part of this cutter a set-screw, k, is applied, as shown. The conical cutter is kept from moving above the shoulder b of the cutterhead by means of a iiauge, l. This flange may be a detachable uut or othersuitable device which will bear against the shoulder b ofthe stamphead. The cutter Z, heilig tapering in its outer side and cylindrical on its inside, is brought to a tine sharp edge. The head ot the screw k, beingot` greater diameter than its body and of less depth than the conical part of the eutter, is made to serve asa gage for increasing or decreasing the depth ofthe cut into the paper or stamp being canceled.

The amount of downward movement produced by the pressure exerted upon the handle of the stamp is regulated by the jam-nut h and screw g, and it is controlled while the stamp is being used by the spring f and the hollow plunger d. The height of the jam nut and the adjustment up or down of the spirallythreaded tube, determines the extent of the independent movement of the stem A and cutter Z. The guide F is extended down in form of a cylinder, and is slotted at m, in order to IOO accommodate the arm lG of the stamp head. It also is notched at m', in order to accommodate a foot, G', of said head. This guide F, by fitting over the arln G, serves for holding the nut E from turning while the screw-thread of the tube D is turning in said nut. It also serves for assisting the guide ay in holding the canceling-cutter in a true central position with respect to the head C, and for steadying and also guiding the tubular guide F. A shoe, II, is fastened b v a set-screw, o, upon the foot G', and made adjustable toward the stamp-head by means ofa slot, p, in said foot. This foot andthe shoe-piece may be constructed as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, and thus made to serve for holding a marking-cork or other device, o', as well as serve for balancing the stamp and guiding the tubular portion F. Two set-screws, o, and two slots, p, will be adopted when the construction shown in Figs. 4t and 5 is em ployed. The shoe and its attachments may be made of such proportions with respect to the arm G and its attachments that the stamp will be balanced-that is to say, the shoe H may form a lateral bearing for the stamp properand when the stamp is forced downward upon a letter or other object this shoe, by bearing down upon the letter, will prevent the stamp from canting, and thus insure a perfectly horizontal contact between the stamp and letter. There an arm, G, with marker attached to it is used the stamp is thrown out of balance, and to counteract this thc foot G' is applied on the opposite side ofthe stamphead at a point directly opposite said arm G, as shown in Figs. 1, 4, and 5, said shoe serving also as a support for the guiding-shoeIfI, which in turn acts as a steadying and guiding means to thependent tube F, as shown.

Between the jam-nut 7L and the guide a of the stamp is applied theusual spring, I, for returning the handle and cutter to their normal positions.

The construction and operationof the parts described is such, as will be evidentfrom the drawings, that when the handle is forced downward the cutter and its stem will make an independent vertical movement to the extent that is desired to cut into a postage-stamp or other object, and instantly thereupon it will be caused to revolve and cut outJ the paper, and in this revolving movement the vertical movement may, if necessary, be increased by pressing forcibly upon the stamphandle; but

such vertical movement is limited to the dis tance between the plunger d' and shoulder c, which distance can be regulated with great nicety by thejam-nut h and the screw-thread g on the stem A.

The greatest advantage ot' lny present invention is secured from the adjustment of the spirally-threaded tube upon the central guiding-stem by means of the screw g, as by this means the stem is made available for centralizing, supporting, and guiding all the parts, so that bind cannot take place.

The stamp-head and other parts may be on their external surfaces square instead of round, l

if desirable. In some uses of the stamp described the arm G and foot G' might be unnecessary, and those parts might be left oft' in the constructionwithout departing from other por tions of my invention.

`What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination of the stem A, carrying a canceling-cutter and having scre\vthreads t' and g, iam-nut l1, screw-threaded tube D, nut E, stamp-head C, plunger d', and handle B, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. The combination of the stamphead C, central stem,A, tubular guidcF, screw-threaded tube D, nut E, shoe H, and handle B, having a guide, a, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. The screw-threaded tube, titted around the jam-nut h and centered by it, and fastened by a screw-thread, g, to the stem A, substantially as described.

4. rlhe tubular guide F, fastened to the nut E, in combination with the adjustable shoe H, and the stamp-head G, having attached to it the foot G', substantially as described.

5. rIhe foot G', in combination with the stamp-head G, having an arm, G, whereby the stamp is steadied and balanced and facilities are afforded for attaching a shoe, H, and marking-cork, substantially as described.

6. The hollow conical cutter l, provided with a central or gage set-screw, k, substantially as and for the purpose described.

Signed in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE D. SPOONER.

\Vitnesses:

F. M. BUTLER, NEWMAN WEEKS.

IOO 

